Catch up on the political drama from the Spring Statement, where Angela Rayner’s planning reforms soar, Rachel Reeves faces economic headaches, and Darren Jones puts his foot in it.
Read all about it in this week's Who's Top Who's Not.
Flying high - Angela Rayner
Within a troublesome Spring Statement, a shining light was the government’s planning reforms that are poised to drive growth and deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projects these reforms will boost GDP by 0.2% by 2029-30, injecting an additional £6.8 billion into the economy.
Crucial to achieving these aims, is Angela Rayner’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill which was comfortably approved at second reading on Monday evening. Contained within the Bill is the National Planning Policy Framework that aims to speed up the planning system, expand Britain’s energy network and help achieve the government’s target of building 1.5 million homes by 2029.
In contrast to more challenging aspects of the OBR’s forecasts, the tangible benefits of the NPPF reforms—set to drive housebuilding to its highest level in 40 years—offer a much-needed win for the government. Expect more photos of Angela Rayner in a high-vis jacket and hard hat as she leans into her role as the face of getting Britain building.
Middle ranking- Rachel Reeves
The Chancellor’s job this week (delivering a low-key update on economic growth) was derailed by the confirmation that government watchdogs had halved her growth forecast for 2025 to 1%. Hampered by a lack of fiscal headroom due to higher borrowing costs and ‘increased global insecurity’ Reeves was forced to substantially cut welfare spending over the next few years to adhere to her self-imposed fiscal rules.
A potential rebellion looms among Labour MPs considering voting against the changes to PIP at a Commons vote expected in May, who fear the impact of the cuts on their constituents and are squeamish about the direction the government has taken. But any fight with parts of the PLP may end up as a win for the government as it projects itself to the public as gripping Britian's benefits bill and shifting the Tories further right.
An unlikely defender of the Chancellor, Kemi Badenoch, weighed in by praising Reeves as “one of the best that they’ve got”; an odd compliment from the person supposed to be leading the Opposition’s attack on the government.
Reeves is faced with the challenge of quelling unruly backbenchers, particularly on the left of the PLP, and remaining steadfast in delivering Labour’s no.1 mission of kickstarting economic growth somehow. Amid other criticism of Reeves for accepting freebie tickets to Sabrina Carpenter, is it any coincidence that she confessed this week to her favourite song being ‘please, please, please’?
Sinking slowly- Darren Jones
Darren Jones put his foot in it whilst defending the Chancellor’s welfare announcements by comparing disability benefit cuts to children’s pocket money.
When appearing on Politics Live, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury put forward an ill-judged explanation of the government’s plans to cut benefits. Rachel Reeves dismissed Jones’s comments as ‘a clumsy analogy’ after her deputy’s words sparked outrage. Jones is usually a good media performer, and he will need to find his feet again soon.
Though Jones later apologised for any offence caused, it’s a bad look for a treasury minister. Jones is widely respected, but he has a tough job selling the Treasury’s cuts to a sceptical Labour Party, as well as the public. And his job does not get any easier with his Labour colleagues as he is finishing up negotiations with other cabinet ministers about their departmental budgets ahead of the Spending Review. With Reeves seen as a lightning rod for Starmer, could Jones become a lightning rod for Reeves?